Biome

In Kerbal Space Program a biome is a geographic area on the surface of a celestial body typically corresponding with types of geology like mountains or craters. This is in contrast to the real meaning of the term in which biomes are biotic communities in contiguous areas with similar climatic conditions and organism populations.

The results of science activities often differ when performed in different biomes, and thus provide more opportunities to earn Science Points in Career Mode to research further along the technology tree. In Sandbox, even the text descriptions from experiments are unavailable, rendering biomes unimportant.

Areas belonging to a biome may be geographically separate, but they're not considered different areas. For example, after performing an EVA Report at Kerbin's north polar IceCap biome, performing one from the southern IceCap gives the same results (and Science Points) as if it had been performed a second time in the northern IceCap.

With version 0.90 biomes were added to all celestial bodies which have a solid surface, which excepts Jool and the Sun. Before that only the Kerbin system - Kerbin, Mun and Minmus - had biomes. Jool's moon Laythe and the planet Eve have bodies of water and science activities performed in them stated as being from "Laythe's oceans" and "Eve's oceans". However, this was just the effect of the situation "SrfSplashed" for a splashdown versus the usual "SrfLanded" surface landing.

Kerbol

The star Kerbol has no biomes.

Moho

The planet Moho has 12 biomes. It is one of two bodies (the other being Ike) that have their own North and South Pole biome. On the North Pole there is a big sinkhole called the Northern Sinkhole.

Moho biome list

Moho biome map as of 0.90.0

• North Pole
• Northern Sinkhole Ridge
• Northern Sinkhole
• Highlands
• Midlands
• Minor Craters
• Central Lowlands
• Western Lowlands
• South Western Lowlands
• South Eastern Lowlands
• Canyon
• South Pole

Eve

The planet Eve has 7 biomes. It has several Explodium Seas, among which lie large continents.

Eve biome list

Eve biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Explodium Sea
• Lowlands
• Midlands
• Highlands
• Peaks
• Impact Ejecta

Gilly

With only 3 biomes, the moon of Eve, called Gilly, has the fewest number of biomes.

Gilly biome list

Gilly biome map as of 0.90.0

• Lowlands
• Midlands
• Highlands

Kerbin

Kerbin biome map

The planet Kerbin has 9 biomes, plus a large number of surface-only “location biomes” comprising Kerbal Space Center. Roughly 60% Kerbin's surface is Water biome. Grasslands and Highlands biomes cover most of the land area.

Kerbin is the only celestial body with location biomes: the grounds of KSC and the many structures it is composed of. Each count as a biome only with experiments performed on the surface. KSC is within a Shores biome, so experiments while flying at any altitude over the KSC count as Shores. However, it is possible to get an "EVA Report while flying over" the area. The exact trigger is unknown but may relate to split-second timing while jumping on a parked vessel.

Kerbin biome list

Kerbin biome map as of 0.90.0

• Ice Caps
• Tundra
• Highlands
• Mountains
• Grasslands
• Deserts
• Badlands
• Shores
• Water

KSC location biome list

• KSC
  • Administration
  • Astronaut Complex
  • Crawlerway
  • Flag Pole
  • LaunchPad
  • Mission Control
  • R&D
    • R&D Central Building
    • R&D Corner Lab
    • R&D Main Building
    • R&D Observatory
    • R&D Side Lab
    • R&D Small Lab
    • R&D Tanks
    • R&D Wind Tunnel
  • Runway
  • SPH
    • SPH Main Building (Roof)
    • SPH Round Tank
    • SPH Tanks
    • SPH Water Tower
  • Tracking Station
    • Tracking Station Dish East
    • Tracking Station Dish North
    • Tracking Station Dish South
    • Tracking Station Hub
  • VAB
    • VAB Main Building (Roof)
    • VAB Pod Memorial
    • VAB Round Tank
    • VAB Tanks

Mun

Mun biome map

The biggest moon of Kerbin, called the Mun, has a total of 15 biomes, 7 of which are uniquely named major craters. The Mun has the largest amount of biomes in the Kerbol System. Most of the surface area belongs to the Midlands biome followed by the Highlands. Canyon biomes extend off a few major craters.

Mun biome list

Mun biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Polar Lowlands
• Polar Crater
• Highlands
• Highland Craters
• Midlands
• Midland Craters
• Northern Basin
• Northwest Crater
• East Farside Crater
• Canyons
• Farside Crater
• East Crater
• Twin Craters
• Southwest Crater

Minmus

Minmus biome map

The moon of Kerbin, called Minmus, has a total of 9 biomes. The most distinctive quality of Minmus's biomes is the variety of Flats, which in-game text describe as “lake beds”. They are almost perfectly flat and may represent salt flats. Roughly two-thirds of the surface area is irregular terrain transitioning between Highlands, Midlands, and Lowlands with Slopes in-between.

Minmus biome list

Minmus biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Lowlands
• Midlands
• Highlands
• Slopes
• Flats
• Lesser Flats
• Great Flats
• Greater Flats

Duna

The planet Duna has 5 biomes.

Duna biome list

Duna biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Highlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Craters

Ike

The moon of Duna, called Ike, has 8 biomes. It is one of two bodies (the other being Moho) that has their own North and South Pole biome.

Ike biome list

Ike biome map as of 0.90.0

• Polar Lowlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Eastern Mountain Ridge
• Western Mountain Ridge
• Central Mountain Range
• South Eastern Mountain Range
• South Pole

Dres

The planet Dres has 8 biomes.

Dres biome list

Dres biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Highlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Ridges
• Impact Ejecta
• Impact Craters
• Canyons

Jool

The planet Jool has no biomes.

Laythe

The first moon of Jool, called Laythe, has 5 biomes. Laythe exists of a huge ocean, called The Sagen Sea, with some small Dunes and Shores biomes. It also has bay, called the Cresent Bay and a Poles biome.

Laythe biome list

Laythe biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Shores
• Dunes
• Cresent Bay
• The Sagen Sea

Vall

The second moon of Jool, called Vall, has 4 biomes.

Vall biome list

Vall biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Highlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands

Tylo

The third moon of Jool, called Tylo, has 8 biomes. Three biomes have the exact same name but are seen separately in KSP. It is unknown, if this is a bug or was simply overlooked by Squad.

Tylo biome list

Tylo biome map as of 0.90.0

• Highlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Mara
• Minor Craters
• Major Crater (the 3 are colored differently they count as one)

Bop

The fourth moon of Jool, called Bop, has 5 biomes.

Bop biome list

Bop biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Slopes
• Peaks
• Valley
• Ridges

Pol

The fifth moon of Jool, called Pol, has 4 biomes.

Pol biome list

Pol biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Lowlands
• Midlands
• Highlands

Eeloo

The planet Eeloo has a total of 7 biomes.

Eeloo biome list

Eeloo biome map as of 0.90.0

• Poles
• Glaciers
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Ice Canyons
• Highlands
• Craters

References

• Answer in “List of places and biomes in KSP (planetary geology & geography) - UPDATING FOR v0.90” by Olympic1